Please remember to exercise caution when exploring Nevada's Ghost Towns & Mining Camps. Open shafts, drifts going into mountainsides, and old buildings, are all DANGEROUS. Be aware of your surroundings, and let someone know where you are, especially if your plans change.

Kingston (Summit) (Morgan)

DIRECTIONS: From Austin, head east on U.S. 50 for 11.5 miles. Then head south on Nevada 376 for 14 miles. Exit right and follow for 3 miles to Kingston.

"The Kingston townsite was laid out in 1864 as a result of the boom in nearby Bunker Hill. Kingston offered a more level area for building mills and houses. And since a couple of new mines were discovered near the mouth of Kingston Canyon, the new location was even more favorable for settlement. In 1865 the 20-stamp Sterling Mill was built. The following year, another 20-stamp mill was put into production. In June the New England and Nevada Consolidated Silver Mining Company graded a mill site just below the Sterling Mill. The old Colfax Mill (renamed the Smoky Mill) was moved here in July and started on September 24, working ore from the Mother Ledge Mine (Sante Fe District). Two other smaller mills also were active by 1866.

A post office opened on January 11, 1865, with Henry Schmidtlein as postmaster. The town of Kingston began to boom and within one year had a population of 125 and many businesses. Slowly, however, the mines faded and the mills began to run at less than capacity. The post office closed on December 26, 1867. In 1869 the Big Smoky Mill was moved to the booming White Pine District, near Hamilton. The district became dormant by 1870, and the clanging of mining machinery did not return to Kingston until the 1880s. Some mines were reopened in 1881 and the post office, now named Morgan, reopened on November 23. In August 1882 the Victorine Gold Mining Company gained control of the mines in the district, bringing some interest back to Kingston. A school was built in 1885 and remained open until 1923. Several business establishments returned. The activity was short-lived though, and all mining ceased the next year. The post office closed and only about 25 people remained.

The last revival began in 1906. The Kingston Mining Company gained control of the district's mines and enjoyed modest success for a few years. A 60-ton mill was built in 1909 and ran until 1911 when the company folded. Since then, no additional mining activity has taken place. The most impressive of the extensive remains at Kingston today are the imposing stone walls of the Sterling Mill. Other stone ruins remain in Kingston Canyon, but new houses have recently been built as part of a modern housing development and some of the ruins have been destroyed. The mill ruins alone make the trip worthwhile, however."

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